Knitting mechanism



July 12,1932- H. EsHousEMAN I 1,866,567

` KNITTING MEcHANIsM Filed Feb. 12. 195o sheets-sheet 1 am y? y fr0/Mfrs.

July 12, 1932. H. E. HoUsEMAN KNITTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12. 1950 3 Sheets-'Sheet 2 July 12, 1932 H. E. HousEMAN v 1,866,567

KNITTING MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 12. 195o a. sheets-sheet s 76 v 84 42 l i e y Haro/df. /aude/zzz' Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED s'ra'rlrts 'PATENT OFFICE HAROLD HOUSEIAN, 0F EDGE HOOR, DELAWARE, ASSGNOR TO STANDARD-TRUI? BROS. MACHINE COHPANY, 0I WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION 0F DELA- WARE KN'ITTING SE applicativa mea rebruary ia, resp. serial No. 427,769.

r1his invention relates to a knitting mechanism and particularly to a. novel means for of considerable time and stoppage.' of the machine. p

It is the broad object of the present invention to provide improved means for controlling the shogging movements of the wrap iin-- gers. In the attainment of this broad object there is provided a preferred form of mechanism of simple construction capable of eecting definite positioning relative to the needles. Furthermore, the pattern controlling part of the mechanism may be readilyy changed for the production of diderent patterns, for example, during the knitting of the toe portion of hosiery, Without stoppage of the machine.

The arrangement disclosed in this application is alternative and operatively similar to an arrangement disclosed and claimed in my prior application, Serial Number 422,818, tiledalanuary 23, 1930, in which application there are also claimed various features of novelty common to the two arrangements.

The invention and its objects will be understood `.from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Y Fig. l is a side elevation, party in section,

' of a portion of a hitting machine including the mechanism forming subject matter oi the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section cn ci l;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig.y1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. The machine embodying the present invention includes a frame designated 2 which supports the usual mechanisms for effecting circular knitting, only those being shown, however, which are necessary for an understanding of the present invention. The machine includes a stationary circle of needles, indicated by 4 with which cooperate the usualv stitch forming elements (not shown) and` wrap lingers 6 carried by a wrap nger cylinder 8 and adapted to be moved about the needles by selecting devices 10 of any desired type, revolving about the circuit of needles, to wrap yarns 12 in the hooks of the needles whereby they are knit into the fabric together with the primary yarn or yarns. The mechanisms just described are of a conventional type, the cylinder being arranged to be shogged tocarry the wrap yarn or yarns into engagement with dii'erentneedles whereby j patterns may be produced. Y

An arm 18 rests on, and is provided with a sleeve extension journalled in, a bracket 16 carried by anpupright post 34 forming part of the frame. In the arm 18 is slidably and rotatably journalled the spindle M which carries the cylinder 8. The arm 18 carries a key 21 which extends into an elongated slot 23: in the spindle of somewhat greater Width than the key so that angular play may take place between the spindle and the arm 18. Extending upwardly from opposite sides of arm 18 are lugs carrying adjustable screvvs 2G having opposed tapered ends between lwhich the end of 'an arm 22 is adapted to engage.

The arm 22 is secured to the spindle by a set screw or the like.

l The upper end of the spindle ll is provided with a swivel head 2l to which is pivoted a link 26 in turn pivoted to a counterbalanced lever pivoted on thc pest 3d. The weight needles in the same angle.

is preferably such as to raise the spindle and cylinder 8, the latter, in its upper position, abutting a shock absorbing spring located beneath the bracket 16. The spindle is held in lower position with the fingers in position to cooperate with the needles by means of a latch 32 carried by the arm 18 engaging a lug 30 on arm 22.

Due to the play of the key 21 in slot 23, it will be obvious that the angulai` relationship between the spindle 14 and the arm 18 may be adjustedl by screws 20. As the spindle is dropped from raised position, the arm 22 rides on the tapered end of one or the other of screws 20 into the space therebetween so that the adjustment is effected automatically to position the wrap fingers relatively to the needles. The key 21 and slot 23 are provided to insure that excessive angular movement of spindle 14 does not occur during its rise and that the arm l22 moves between the screws 20 during its descent.

The arm 18 is provided with an arcuate portion 36, which may consist of a separate plate, provided with teeth 38 arranged concentrically with spindle 14 and of a number in a given angle corresponding to the number of detent 40 is arranged to enter between the teethto position the fingers, when the parts are adjusted, to cooperate with the needles, the nose of the detent being so formed that application of sufficient rotary pressure to arm 18 causes a tooth to move it out of a space and thereby release the arm.

A vertical shaft 42 is journalled in fixed bearings and carries at its upper end an arm` 44 to which are pivoted pawls 46 and 48 drawn towards each other and into engagementwith the ratchet teeth 38 by spring means such as is indicated at 50. The teeth and pawls are preferably formed about as shown so that positive ratcheting may be had in either direction about the axis of spindle 14.

The lower end of shaft 42 carries an arm 52 at the outer end of which is fixed a downwardly extending follower pin 54. As shown in Fig. 4, this pin is positioned under certain conditions byl the walls of a slot in a block which slot has one portion form-ed with parallel walls 56 spaced a distance only.

slightly greater than the diameter of the pin,

' and another portion having diverging walls parts of the mechanism (for example, by

being geared to the cam cylinder), so that the bell crank 62 is oscillated once during each cycle of operation ofthe machine, that is, once during the formation of each course in the fabric. Movements of shaft 42 are A spring pressed limited -by pins 43 engaging a pin or lug carried by lever 52.

At the end of the bell crank 62 opposite the follower is a pivoted pawl 66 cooperating with ratchet teeth 68 on a pattern chain supporting drum 69, the teeth being arranged so that each oscillation of the bell lcrank produces a step movement of a pattern chain 70 in one direction sufficient to advance another link, either plain or having a lug 72, beneath a follower 74 carried by an arm 76 pivoted to the frame at 78. -The chain 70 is made up of plain links or links having lugs 72 ofeither of two different heights tocontrol the selective devices of the mechanism, as will be pointed out.

The inner end of arm 76 is stepped to provid-e vertical abutment surfaces 80 and 82, the formerbeing above the other and displaced forwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

An adjustable stop screw 84 carried by a lever 86 may engage either or neither ofthe abutment surfaces. The lever 86 is vpivoted to the bell crank 62 at 88.

Also pivoted to the bell crank 62 at 91 is a latch 90 having steps.92 and 94 on its free end engaging a nose 9 6 of lever 86, the lever 86 and latch 90 being drawn `towards each other by spring 98. Beneath the latch 90 is a downwardly extending pin in the normal path of movement of which lies the free end of a lever 102 pivoted to the frame at 104 and normally drawn by. a spring 106 against a stop pin 107 also carried by the frame. The rearward side of the lever 102 is cut away to form a sloping cam surface 108.' The rearwardly extending end of lever 86 is pointed', two cam faces 110 and 112 sloping outwardly-a-nd forwardly from the point. An ad'- justable stop 114 limits clockwise movement of the lever 86.

Mounted to slide vertically on shaft 42 is a sleeve 116 carrying at its lower end an outwardly and downwardly extending cam following arm 118 engageable by a cam 122 carried by a rotatingpartof the mechanism, for example, vby the cam cylinder. A pin 120 secured to the frame 4extends through a hole in arm 118 to prevent rotary movement of sleeve 116 when it is raised by cam 122. An arm carried by the upper end of sleeve 116 has a cam face 124 engageing the lower end of lever 126 pivoted to arm 16 and urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a spring 128. The lever 126 has ends 130 engageable with the ends of pawls 46 and into cooperation with various needles must, -O Course, take. place when-the ngers are idle, that is, retracted inside the circle of needles. Since the movements of' bell crank 62 in a-clockwise direction as viewed in plan effect rotation of the spindle, those movements `occur during the idle period just referred to and cam 64 is designed accordingly. Let it be assumed that bell crank 62 is at the extreme limit of its clockwise movement and about to begin its counter clockwise movement. Also let it be assumed that a plain link vis brought beneath follower 74 during its counter clockwise movement whereby the face is located below the path of stop 84.

At the beginning of this movement it is possible that the pin 54 is displaced to one side or the other of its central position. At this time the pawls 46 and 48 are withdrawn from teeth 38 by lever 126 which is rocked by upward movement of sleeve 116 imparted by cam 122. In the initial part ofthe movement, the pin 54 is engaged by one of the walls 58 and cammed to its central position defined by its location between walls 56. The pawls are thus moved to the central position of their strokes whereupon they may be released by lever 126 so as to drop into openings between teeth 38.

Also during the first part of this movement, the pin 100 engages cam face 108 of lever 102. The lever, being backed up by pin 107, does not yield and accordingly the latch is cammed outwardly against the tension of spring 98 releasing nose 96 from either of' steps l92, or 94 (if it was engaged by either) whereby the lever 86 may rock counter clockwise under the action of spring 98 to a limiting position which may or may notbedefined by a suitable stop. After pin clears the end of lever 108, the latch may swing inwardly against the curved rearward edge of nose 96 Since, as has been stated, the face 80 is below the path of stop 84, further movement of bell crank 62 to its counter clockwise limit will not effect displacement of the lever :.86 from its extreme counterclockwise position.`

ln the beginning of the clockwise movement of bell crank- 62, the piny 54 is first released from its engagement by walls 56, the pawls being held releasably against displacement by reason of the releasable engagement of detent 40 with the teeth of the ratchet 36. The clockwise movement may then continue to its end without effecting movement of pin 54 since the end of lever 86 in its extreme position will not engage the pin. During the clockwise movement the pawl 66 passes freely overa tooth of ratchet 68 and drops-behind it re aratory to its next feeding movement.

f uring the nextcounterclockwise movement of bell crank 62 a lug 72 of lower height is moved under follower 74, the -face 80 will be raised into the path of stop screw 84 so that engagement of the stop screw with the face will rock lever 86 in a clockwise direc-- tion to a position wherein the stop 94 of the latch 90 will drop in front of nose 96 after pin 100 clears the end of lever 102. During of pawl 48 effects a counterclockwise movement of the spindle through an angle to move the wrap fingers from cooperation with certain needles into cooperation with adjacent needles. The accurate. positioning of the wrap lingers is secured by the detent 40 which 'I snaps into a space between a-pair of teeth 38.

lt will be noted that in this movement the pawl 46 exerts a snubbing action preventing overrun. As soon as the pawls reach their extreme positions, they are released from the.'

teeth by lever 126 actuated by cam 122.

Thereupon, another counterclockwise movement of bell crank 62 occurs. Let it be assumed that this movement brings the highest lug under follower 74. Face 82 is thus brought into the path of stop 84. During the first part of` this movement, nose 96 remains engaged with step 94 since lever 102 had'yielded on the previous clockwise movement of 62 tothe passage of pin 100. Now,

however, the lever is backed up by pin 107 and accordingly latch 90 is rocked to release' lever 86. During the last part of the movement lever 86 is rocked to position determined by face 82 and held in such position by latch 90,*the step 92 of which engages nose 96. At the same time pin 54 is returned to central position and pawls 46 and 48 are permitted to enter between teeth 38 by retraction of lever 126.

During the next clockwise movement of the bell crank, the point of lever 86 follows path B so that cam face 112 engages the pin. The lever is backed up by stop 114 so that shaft 42 is rocked counterclockwise effecting a clockwise movement of the wrap fingers.'

lt `will be obvious that by a suitable arrangement of plainlinks and links having lugs of different heiglits', step by step movements in either direction may be imparted to( the wrap fingers, or they may remain unlever 76 and properly designed cam faces 110 and 112 to step the wrap fingers through single movements corresponding to one, two or moreneedles in either direction. For example, with four faces similar to'80 and 82 and suitable faces 110I and 112, there may be imparted either single or double shogging movements in either direction. The pins 43 must, of course, be so spaced as to permit the maximum movement required of shaft 42.

From the above it will be obvious that intricate zigzag wrap yarn patterns may be readily obtained by the proper selection of pattern chains. Since a change of pattern requires only a change of chain 70, which is very readily effected, such change may be made without stopping the machine, for eX- ample, during the knitting of a toe portion of a stocking. It will also be clear that very accurate positioning of the yarn fingers is very readily obtainable and the cutting of accurate cams is rendered unnecessary.

Among the various features of operation may be noted the positive shogging action in either direction and the snubbing action of the trailing pawl which prevents overrun. The accurate positioning of the fingers is insured by the camming action of the detent 40 which serves to move the spindle 14 to proper position if it should happen to be slightly angularly displaced. The detent also effectively prevents overrun since it may be designed to prevent any movements of ratchet 36 except those positively produced.

wWhat I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shoggingthe carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the wrap finger, and oppositely facing pawls co- 'perating with the ratchet to move the wrap n er.

Y A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the wrap finger, oppositely facing pawls cooperating with the ratchet to move the wrap finger, and means for limiting the strokes of the pawls whereby the trailing pawl serves to prevent overrun of the ratchet.

3. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to co-operate with y a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to position the wrap finger to cooperate with Various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the carrier, an oscillating member, oppositely directed pawls pivotally mounted on the oscillating member and arranged to'cooperate with the ratchet teeth, and means for oscillating the member, said means including a cam follower carried by the member, an oscillating lever, means carried by the lever for locating the member in a central position, a cam carried by the lever and adapted to assume either an inoperative position or one of two operative positions to act on the follower to oscillate the member in either direction from its central position, an abutment member arranged to engage the cam to move it to one ofy said positions, pattern mechanism for adjusting the position of the abutment member, a latch for holding the cam in an assumed position, and means for tripping the latch, said parts being arranged whereby, during movement of the oscillating lever in one direction the member is located in a central position, the latch is tripped, the cam is caused to assume a position corresponding to the position of the abutment member, and is latched in such -position, and whereby during movement of the oscillating lever in the other direction, the cam may or may not act upon the follower to oscillate the member to shift the wrap finger.

4. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier-therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to position the wrap finger to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the carrier, an oscillating member, oppositely directed pawls pivotally mounted on the o scillating member and arranged to cooperate with the ratchet teeth, and means for oscillating the member,A said means including-a cam follower carried by the member, an oscillating lever, means carried by the lever for locating the member in a central position, a cam carried by the lever and adapted to act on the follower to oscillate the member in either direction from. its central position, an abutment member arranged to engage the cam, pattern mechanism for adjusting the position of the abutment member, a latch for holding the cam in an assumed position, and means for tripping the latch, said parts being arranged whereby, during movement of the oscillating lever in one direction the member is located in a central position, the latch is tripped, the cam is caused to assume a position corresponding to the position of the abutment member, and is latched in such position, and whereby during movement of the oscillating lever in the other direction,

-a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to position the wrap finger to cooperatewith various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the carrier, an oscillating member, oppositely directed pawls pivotally mounted on the oscillating member and arranged to cooperate with the ratchet teeth,`l and means for oscillating the member, said means including a cam follower carried by the member, an oscillating lever, means for locating the member in a' central position, a cam carried by the lever and adapted to act onthe follower to oscillate the member in either direction from its central position, an abutment member arranged to engage the cam, pattern mechanism for adjusting the position of the abutment -inember, a latch for holding the cam in an assumed position, and means for tripping the latch, Isaid parts being arranged whereby, Vduring movement of the oscillating lever'in one direction the member is located'i'in a central position, the latch is tripped, the cam is `caused to assume a position corresponding to the position of the abutment member and is latched in such position, and whereby during movement of the oscillating lever in the other directionthe cam may or may not act upon the follower to oscillate the member to shift the wrap finger. y

6. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger,

.a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to position the wrap finger to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the carrier, an oscillating member, oppositely directed pawls pivotally mounted on the oscillating member and arranged to cooperate with the ratchet teeth, adetent arranged to releasably engage the Yratchet teethto hold the wrap linger in operative positionrelative to a .needle, and means for oscillatingV the member, said means including a cam follower carried by the member, an oscillating lever,A means carried by the lever for locating the member in a central position, a cam carried by the lever and adapted to assume either an inoperative position or one of two operative positions to act on the follower to oscillate the member in either direction from its central position, an abutment member arranged to engage the cam to 'move it to one of said positions, pattern mechanism for adjusting the position of the abutment member, a latch for holding the cam in an assumed position, and means for tripping the latch, said parts being arranged whereby, during movement of the oscillating lever in one direction the member'is located in a central position, the latch is tripped, the cam is caused to assume a position corresponding to the osition of the abutment member, and is late ed in such position, and wherebyduringkmovement of the oscillating lever in the other direction, the cam Imay or may not act upon the follower to oscillate themember to shift the wrap linger.

7. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle,.and means for shogging the carrier to position the wrap finger to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the carrier, an oscillating member, oppositelyV directed pawls pivotally mounted on the oscillating member and arranged to cooperate with the ratchet teeth, and means for oscillating the member, said means including a cam follower carried ,-by the member, a displaceable cam for acting on the cam follower, and pattern mechanism for controlling the position of the cam.'

8. A knitting' mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap linger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to position the wrap finger to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the carrier, an oscillating member, oppositely directed pawls pivotally mounted on the oscillating member and arranged to cooperate with the ratchet teeth, and means for oscillating the member, said means includinv a cam follower carried by the member, and an oscillating cam for acting on the follower displaceable to assume either an inoperative position or an operative position to oscillate the member in either direction from its central position, and pattern mechanism for controlling the operation of the cam. 9. A knitting mechanism-including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to position the wrap finger'to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means includinfr a ratchet moving with the carrier, an oscillating member, oppositely directed pawls pivotally mounted on the oscillating member and arranged to cooperate with the ratchet teeth, and'means for oscillating the member, said means including a cam follower carried by the member, an oscillating lever, meansV for locating the member in a central position, a cam carried by the lever and adapted to assume either an inoperative position or at least one operative position to act on the follower to oscillate the member in either direction from its central position, van abutment member arranged to engage the cam, pattern mechanism for adjusting the position of the abutment member, a latch for holding the cam 1n an assumed position, and means for tripping the latch.

10. A knitting mechanism including a circle' of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap fin er to cause it to cooperate with a needle, an means for shogging the carrier to position the wrap finger to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the carrier, an oscillating member, oppositely directed pawls pivotally mounted on the oscillating member and arranged to cooperate with the ratchet teeth on the oscillating member, said pawls normally occupying a central position, and pattern controlled means for moving the' pawls in either direction and means for returning the pawls to their normal central position.

11. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap linger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap inger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, and means for shogging the carrier to position the wrap finger to cooperate with various needles, said shogging means including a ratchet moving with the carrier, an oscillating member, oppositely directedpawls pivotally mounted on the oscillating member and arranged to cooperate with the ratchet teeth on the oscillating member, said pawls normally occupying a central position and pattern controlled means for moving the pawls in either direction, means for returning the pawls to their normal central position, and means for moving the pawls out of engagement with the ratchet teeth prior to their return to normal position. I

12. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap finger to cause it to cooperate wlth a needle, means for shogging the carrierl to carry the wrap finger into positions to cooperate with various needles, saidshogging means including a pawl and ratchet mechanism operative to move the carrier positively in either direction, and pattern mechanism for automatically reversing the movement of the carrier at predetermined times.

13. A knitting mechanism including a circle of needles and devices cooperating therewith to form stitches, at least one wrap finger, a carrier therefor, means for actuating the wrap nger to cause it to cooperate with a needle, means for shogging the carrier to HAROLD E. HOUSEMAN. 

